Leather rolling machine



May 7, 1946. H. N. MOORE LEATHER ROLLING MACHINE s sheets-sheet 2 Filed Feb. 2l, 1945 May 7, 1946. H. N. MOORE LEATHER ROLLING MACHINE Filed Feb. 21, 1945 e sheets-sheet 5 Ma'y 7, 1946. H. N. MOORE LEATHER ROLLING ,MACHINE Filed Feb. 2l. 1945 6 Sheets-Shea?I 4 I May 7, 1946. g H. N. MOORE LEATHER- RLLING lMACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 F'iled Feb. 21, 1945 lmmm ...M

6 Sheets-Sheet 6 May 7, 1946. H. N. MOORE LEATHER ROLLING MACHINE Filed Feb. 21, 1945 www@ wmllllllh ...lllllulr vball rolling machine.

Patented May 7, 1946 LEATHER ROLLING MACHINE Harry N. Moore, Endicott,

N. Y., assigner to Endicott Johnson Corporation, Endicott, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application February 21, 1945, Serial No. 579,130

20 Claims.

This invention is a novel machine for rolling and smoothing hides of leather or the like, and the principal object thereof is to provide a machine having a plurality of rows of staggered roller balls cooperating with a series of rolls adapted to act upon the opposite surfaces of hides or thelike passing therethrough, the balls being arranged in` vertical movable individual yokes with the balls in adjacent rows staggered to cover all portions of the surface of the hide, thereby assuring uniform quality of product and high speed production.

Heretofore hides and the like have been rolled by hand methods, the quality'of product depending upon the skill of the `operator in utilizing a single roller ball actuated by a swinging pendulum-like arm moving back and forth across portions of the hide. Beneath suchball a bed was disposed, raised and lowered by a foot treadle, through a system of levers, the hide beingplaced on the bed, and as it was raised into contact with the swing ball its position was changed by the operator, who also varied the pressure by use of the foot treadle. Production of rolled hides by such hand method was obviously small although the quality of the work produced was good.

Another method of rolling hides has been heretofore effected by passing the leather through a series of opposed cylindrical rolls, squeezing or rolling pressure being applied pneumatically to the upper set of rolls. But since hides are not uniform in thickness, that is, same have thin and thick areas, obviously only the high spots of the hides were rolled. While production using this latter method was relatively high, the duality of the product was only fair.

I will explain the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate one practical embodiment thereof to enable others familiar with the art to adopt and use the same; and will summarize in the claims the novel features of construction, and novel combinations of parts, for which protection is desired.

In said drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of my novelmultiple Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the machine.

Fig. 3 is a'front end elevation of the machine looking at the feed end.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged elevation 'of the upper portion of the front end of the machine showing the parts illustrated in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged longitudinal section through a portionof the machine.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged front elevation through 55 one of the roller balls and its operating cylinder.

Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 6.

As shown, themachine preferably comprises spaced parallel base beams I-I a, preferably I- beams connected together and having uprights Z-Za at their front ends respectively, and uprights 3-3a at their rear ends respectively. A. top beam 4 connects the upper ends of uprights 2-2a at the front end of the machine, and a cross-beam 5 connects the upper ends of uprights 3-3a atthe discharge end of the machine as shown in Fig. 2.

Extending between the respective uprights 2-3 and 2a-3a above and parallel with the I-beams I-Ia are beams 6 (Figs. 1 and 3) upon the top or' which are bolted down a series of spaced bearings Bb for a series of horizontal rolls 'Ia-8a-9a-- Illa-I Ia, said bearings being held in position by bolts 6a or the like, Fig. 1, and the rolls 1a8a 9a-.I `0a being formed of steel approximately l0" in diameter and about 6 long, the upper peripheries of the rolls la-I Ia inclusive being disposed in the same horizontal plane.

At the front end of the machine, disposed substantially at the level of or slightly below the plane of the upper peripheries of rolls 'Ia- Ila is a feed table I2 for supporting the hides as they are introduced into the machine. Disposed in the horizontal plane of feed board I2 and mounted upon supporting members extending between adjacent beams 6, are filler plates I3, Fig. 1, forming continuations of the feed table between adjacent rolls 'la-I I a for guiding the leading edge of the hide to and between adjacent rolls during its passage through the machine. At the rear end of the machine is a table I4 disposed in the plane of the feed boards I2-I3 for supporting the rolled hide as it emerges from the machine.

In the drawings five cylinder rolls Ia-I la are illustrated `although a greater or lesser number maybe' used; and as shown in Fig. 2 the journals of the alternate rolls are extended beyond thev sides of the frame so that the journals Ib- 9b--I IbV of the rolls "Ia- Sa--I Ia extend varying amounts beyond one side of the frame, while the journals 8b and I 0b of the rolls 8a and Illa extend varying amounts beyond the other side of the frame. However, if desired, the rolls la, 8b, 9a, I 0a and IIa may be' driven in tandem fashion or in any other desired manner. v

As shown, a counter shaft I4 is journaled in brackets -Ib'on uprights 3-3a at the rear end of the machine4 parallel with the cylinder rolls la-Ila but below the level thereof. Journal Ib at one side of the frame is rotated from counter shaft I4 by means of chain I5 running around sprockets IGC-|40, as shown in Fig. 2, while the journal 8b at the same side of the frame is rotated by counter shaft I4 by means of chain I5 running around sprockets 8c-I4d. At the other side of the machine the journal 'Ib is driven from counter shaft I4 by a chain II running around sprockets 'Ic-Ille, While journal Sb is driven by chain I8 running around sprockets Sic-Hf, and journal Ilb is driven by chain I9 running around sprockets I Ic-I4g, the sprockets Ic-Sc-Sc-Ic and IIc being all of one diameter and the sprockets I4c-I4d-I4e--I4f and Ig being of one diameter.

Counter shaft I4 carries a sprocket I4h intermediate the bearings I4b opposite a sprocket 20a on the shaft of a variable speed-reducing mechanism driven through coupling 2I and speed reduction mechanism 22a from a motor 22 mounted adjacent or upon the base of the machine, a chain 23 running around the sprockets I4h and 23a, as shown. Thus, as the shaft of the motor v2?. rotates the counter shaft I4 will be driven at variable speeds to simultaneously rotate the cylindrical rolls 'Ia-I Ia inclusive all at the same speed and in the same direction.

Disposed above and cooperating with the series of cylindrical rolls 'Ia-Ita `inclusive is a series of rows of roller balls, each row being arranged directly above the related cylindrical roll, as shown more particularly in Figs. l, 5 and '7, the row of roller balls cooperating with cylinder Ia being numbered 25, while the row of roller balls cooperating with roll 8a being numbered 25, the row of roller balls cooperating with roll 9a being numbered 2S; and the row of roller balls cooperating with roll IIla being numbered 28, as shown in Fig. 1.

'Ihe roller balls of adjacent rows are staggered so as to overlap, whereby as the hide passes through the machine all portions thereof will be rolled. In the first row of roller balls cooperating with roll la, seven balls 25 are shown in Fig. 3. In the next row of roller balls which cooperate with the adjacent roll 8a, six roller balls 26 are arranged in staggered relation to the balls 25 of the nrst Tow. The third row of roller balls 21 which cooperate with roll 9a contains seven balls in staggered relation to the balls of the second row; and the fourth row of roller balls 28 which cooperate with roll IIla contains six balls in staggered relation to the balls of the third row. The balls of alternate rows however may themselves be mismatched -that is, not necessarily aligned.

Each of the roller balls 25 to 28 is journaled in a yoke 29 (Figs. 5-7) pivoted as at 30 to the lower end of a piston-rod 3|, housed in a flat guide block 32 secured by bolts 33 or the like to the flange of a beam 34 extending between side frame members 35 which latter extend between the uprights 2 3, and Za-Sa respectively of the frame, as indicated in Fig, l; said guide blocks 32 having bolted or otherwise vsecured thereon Cylinders 36 into which the piston rods 31 extend, same ,carrying pistons 36a on their upper ends within the cylinders, Springs 3,8 are disposed around the uppeie ends of the rods 3l between the pistons 33a and the lower ends of the cylinders 3E for normally maintaining the piston rods SI in elevated position to maintain their Vrespective roller balls 25-28 inclusive out of contact with their related rolls 'Ia-Ia inclusive, as indicated more particularly in Figs. 6 and '7.

Each of the cylinders 36 is connected at its upper end with a pipe 3'I (Fig. 5) to an electrically operated air valve 43 disposed upon the top of the beams 4-5 which connect the upper ends of the uprights 2-2a and 3--3a respectively, as shown in Fig. 1, whereby when the related valve lil is operated, as hereinafter explained, compressed air will be admitted into the upper end of the related cylinder 36 during such time as the valve is open, and the related roller ball 25--28 will be pressed downwardly into forcible contact with its cylindrical rolls 'Ia-IIla against the action of spring 38, and whereby when the related valve 40 is closed the spring 38 Will again raise the piston 3| and the related roller ball 25-28 .out of Contact with its cylindrical roll 'Iai Ia. When the roller is not in contact with the leather, the roller balls are held approximately one inch above their related rolls 'Ia-Ia by means of the springs 38. Since twenty-six cylinders 36 are indicated in Fig. 2 in the four rows of cylinders, the air valves therefor may conveniently be arrranged in two rows on the frames 4 and 5 each containing thirteen air valves 43 as indicated in Fig. 3.

Each of the Valves 43 is connected by a pipe 39 to an air tank (not shown) which operates under an air pressure of to 100 pounds per square inch, and preferably the air pressure therein may be increased or decreased as desired by means of a regulating valve (not shown). The air from the tank enters the respective air valves d0 through the pipes 33 (Fig. 5) and is discharged through the respective pipes 31, into the tops of the respective cylinders 33. Thus each cylinder 36 is actuated by a separate valve 40, the particular type or form of valve forming no part of my present invention.

Immediately in front of each roller ball 25--25 is a contact finger 4I, preferably formed of metal and having a rounded lower end normally contacting the feed table I2 or table strips I3, said fingers 4I having their upper ends hingedly mounted as at 4Ia, Fig. 5, to a bracket 42 secured to the underside of a micro-switch 43, Fig. 5, which latter is mounted on an angle iron support 44, each switch 43 being connected by wires in cables 45 leading to the actuating solenoid of its related air valve 4U whereby as each finger 4I is slightly raised, the related switch 43 will be closed, and the electric circuit to the related valve 4D completed to actuate the air valve and admit air into the upper end of the related cylinder 36. The details of the particular microswitch form no part of my present invention provided that the switch contacts will normally remain open when the fingers 4I are dropped upon the feed tables I2 or I3, and the switch contacts will remain closed when the fingers 4I are raised by the passage of the hide through the machine upon the tables I2-I3, the leading edge of the hide as it contacts the successive fingers 4I actuating the related air valves to depress the related roller balls 25-28, and as soon as the hide has passed therethrough, the fingers 4I again dropping by gravity onto the tables I2 and I3, thereby opening the switch circuits and releasing the air pressure from the cylinders 33. In place of the micro-switches 43, electric eyes might be used and mounted in the same relative positions as the switches 43, said eyes controlling the related air valves 40.

In the series of rolls l'a-I Ia the last roll IIa is of same diameter as the rolls la--I Ila, but preferably covered with a rubber or other soft resilient coating of substantial thickness. Cooperating with the coated roll Ila is a steel roll 50 of same diameter as the rolls 'Ia-Illa and having its journals extending through vertical guide slots 5| (Fig. 1) in the frame so that the roll 5D maintains gravitational contact with the underlying coated roll Ha except when separated while a hide is passing therebetween. The purpose of the steel roll 50 is to remove any marks from the hide which may have been made thereon by the roller balls -28.

operation A hide of leather or other material, in semiiinished state or in the proper condition for rolling, is placed by the operator upon the feed table I2 in advance of the first series of roller balls 25. The operator then pushes the leather forward, making contact with the first row of contact fingers 4l in advance of the first row of roller balls 25. 'I'he contact fingers 4I of said series of balls are then raised by contact with the leather and the electric switches 43 of related air valves closed, permitting air to enter the related cylinders 36, whereupon theL roller balls 25 of the first series are lowered by their cylinders, and pressure is applied to the leather between the balls 25 and the driven roll la. The leather is rolled and carried in a forward motion to the next row of roller balls 26, where a similar action takes place, the fin-gers 4I of the second series actuating the related roller balls 26 as soon as the leading edge oi' the hide has passed thereunder and thereby raised the said fingers. The action is repeated for the four rows of roller balls 25-28, the leather then passing under the solid steel roll disposed above and extending the full length of the driven rubber covered roll lla and having slotted bearings 5i so as to be in constant contact with the rubber covered roll ila, no downward pressure being applied to the roll 50 other than its own weight. As the roll i la is rubber covered, the action of the rolls 5--I la is such that any marks on the leather that may be left by the action of the preceding series of roller balls 25-28, is removed.

In my multiple ball machine the staggered arrangement of the roller balls 25--28 assures that all parts of the leather will be rolled with accuracy and speed, and the rolled hide will have uniform quality due to the separately actuated multiple ball arrangement.

In place of the micro-switches 43 actuated by the individual fingers 4| `on passage of the hide through the machine, other switch devices might be used, if desired; or electric eyes might be used in connection with the individual roller balls 25-28 to control the respective air valves 40. Therefore, I do not limit my invention to' the exact form shown in the drawings, for obviously changes may be made therein within the scope of the claims.

I claim:

l. In a leather rolling machine having a series of closely adjacent rolls lying in substantially the same plane and driven at the same peripheral speed and in the same direction; a work table disposed slightly within the peripheries of the rolls; rows of roller balls normally disposed above the respective rolls; trip fingers disposed adjacent and in advance of each roller ball and normally contacting the table; and means actuated by each finger while swung by passage of work on the table thereunder to press the related roller ball towards its related roll, thereby forcibly ccmfil pressing the work between the related roller ball and related roll.

2. In a machine as set forth in claim 1, said roller balls of adjacent rows being staggered, whereby the entire area of the work will be engaged by the balls while. passing through the machine.

3. In a machine as set forth in claim 1, re-

ciprocable members supporting said roller balls respectively; and each roller ball being journaled in a yoke pivotally connected with its related reciprocable member. 4. In a machine as set forth in claim l, each said finger being inclined and having an upwardly curved lower end adapted to be engaged by and maintained raised during passage of said work thereunder.

5. In combination with a machine as set forth in claim 1, an additional roll trailing the series and covered with a resilient coating, the periphery of the additional roll lying substantially in the plane of said series; and a cooperating roll above the additional roll mounted in movable bearings and normally gravitationally resting upon the additional roll, the work passing between the said additional and cooperating rolls in its passage through the machine.

6. A leather rolling machine comprising a frame aV series of closely adjacent rolls journaled therein, the upper peripheries of the rolls lying in substantially the same horizontal plane; means for rotating the rolls at the same peripheral speed and in the same direction; a work table cooperating withvand disposed slightly below the upper peripheries of the rolls; rows of plungers disposed above the respective rolls, each plunger terminating adjacent the plane of its related roll; means for normally yieldably maintaining the plunger in raised position; a roller ball journaled on each plunger; pivoted trip fingers disposed adjacent and in advance of each roller ball and normally resting upon the table; and means actuated by each finger while swung by passage of work on the table thereunder to press the related plunger toward its related roll, thereby forcibly compressing the work between the related roller ball and relatedroll.

'7. In a machine as set forth in claim 6, said roller balls of adjacentrows being staggered, whereby the entire area of the work will be engaged by the balls while passing through the machine.

8. In a machine as set forth in claim 6, each said roller ball being crowned at its center and having rounded edges, and being journaled in a yoke pivotally connected on a horizontal axis with its related reciprocable member; and each ball being normally maintained by said member in spaced relation to its related roll.

9. In a machine as set forth in claim 6, each said finger being inclined and having an up- Y wardly curved lower end adapted to be engaged by and maintained raised during passage of said work thereunder.

10. In combination with a machine as set forth in claim 6, an additional roll trailing the series and covered with a yieldable coating, the upper periphery of the additional roll lying in the plane of the series; and a cooperating roll above the additional roll mounted in movable bearings in the frame and normally gravitationally resting upon the additional roll, the work passing between the said additional and cooperating rolls in its passage through the machine.

11. A leather rolling machine comprising a frame; a series of closely adjacent rolls journaled therein, the upper peripheries. of the rolls lying in substantially the same horizontal plane; means for rotating the rolls at the same peripheral speed and in the same direction; a work table cooperating with and disposed slightly below the upper peripheries of the rolls; rows of fluid pressure cylinders disposed above the respective rolls, each cylinder having a plunger terminating adjacent the plane of its related roll; means for normally yieldably maintaining the plunger in raised position; a roller ball journaled on each plunger; each said cylinder having a duct above the plunger connected with a common source of fluid under pressure; a normally closed valve in each said duct; a pivoted trip linger disposed adjacent and in advance of each roller ball and normally resting upon the table; and means for opening the related valve `actuated by each iinger while swung by passage of work on the table thereunder, thereby admitting fluid into the related pressure cylinder and forcibly compressing the work between the related roller ball and related roll while the said finger is so swung by the work.

12. In a machine as set forth in claim 11, said roller balls of adjacent rows being staggered, whereby the entire area of the work will be engaged by the balls while passing through the machine.

13. In a machine as set forth in claim 11, each said roller ball being crowned at its center and having rounded edges, and being journaled in a yoke pivotally connected on a horizontal axis with its related plunger; and each ball being normally maintained by said plunger in spaced relation to its related roll.

14. In a machine as set forth in claim l1, each said nger being inclined and having an upwardly curved lower end adapted to be engaged by and maintained raised during passage of said work thereunder.

15. In combination with a machine as set forth in claim 11, an additional roll trailing the series and covered with a soft yieldable coating, the upper periphery of the additional roll lying in the plane of the series; and a cooperating roll above the additional roll mounted in slotted bearings in the frame and normally gravitationally resting upon the additional roll, the work passing between the said additional and cooperating rolls in its passage through the machine.

16. A leather rolling machine comprising a frame; a series of closely adjacent rolls journaled therein, the upper peripheries of the rolls lying in substantially the same horizontal plane; means for rotating the rolls at the same peripheral speed and in the same direction; a work table cooperating with and disposed slightly below the upper peripheries of the rolls; rows of iluid pressure cylinders disposed above each said roll, each cylinder having a plunger terminating adjacent the plane of its related roll; means for normally yieldably maintaining the plunger in raised position; a roller ball journaled on each plunger; each said cylinder having a duct above the plunger connected with a common source of uid under pressure; a normally closed valve in each said duct; a pivoted trip finger disposed adjacent and in advance of each roller ball and normally resting upon the table; a normally open electric switch adjacent each finger adapted to be closed when the nger is swung; and each valve being electrically controlled and connected in circuit with its related switch, whereby each nger when swung by passage of work on the table thereunder will admit fluid into the related pressure cylinder and forcibly compress the work between the related roller ball and related ball while the said iinger is so swung.

17. In a machine as set forth in claim 16, said roller balls of adjacent rows being staggered, whereby the entire area of the work will be engaged by the balls while passing through the machine.

18. In a machine as set forth in claim 16, each said roller ball being crowned at its center and having rounded edges, and being journaled in a yoke pivotally connected on a horizontal axis with its related plunger; and each ball being normally maintained by said plunger in spaced relation to its related roll.

19. In a machine as set forth in claim 16, each said nger being inclined and having an upwardly curved lower end adapted to be engaged by and maintained raised during passage of said work thereunder.

20. In combination with a machine as set forth in claim 16, an additional roll trailing the series and covered with a soft yieldable coating, the upper periphery of the additional roll lying in the plane of the series; and a cooperating roll above the additional roll mounted in slotted bearings in the frame and normally gravitationally resting upon the additional roll, the work passing between the said additional and cooperating rolls in its passage through the machine.

HARRY N. MOORE. 

